A handful of scouts and cubs at Maragon Primary School ushered in World Thinking Day (on 22 February) by celebrating Baden Powell Day on 19 February.
Dressed in their respective uniforms showcasing their badges and ranks, the pupils spoke with enthusiasm and eagerly spoke about the different adventures and skills they have learned in the Scout movement.
Tshidi Tadi from Girl Guide SA said the day is in celebration of the founding fathers of the scout movement and is a big day on the girl guides and scouts calendar.
“They get to share messages of friendship and goodwill. We will be partnering with other SADC countries this year to learn about them. We have more than
22 000 scouts in South Africa and they all celebrate this day by wearing their uniforms to school.”
The Girl Guide SA organisation operates in all nine provinces in more than two dozen regions. Children as young as four years old can join and become scouts.
“There are some personal challenges that we have to do. For me, it was baking and cooking,” said Grade 5 pupil, Dean Ferguson.
Máeesha Ramaseke added that in the Teddy Club they also bake and make milkshakes.
Thinking Day or Founders Day for the scouts encourages members to celebrate guides around the world. In Gauteng central, the scouts celebrate either by having a gala dinner, or around a camp fire. “They usually choose a different country and learn about that specific country. Norm, culture and traditions and they present on that country and the gala,” Tadi added.
Maragon pupil, Philip Obermeyer concluded “We celebrate Baden Powell’s birthday. He loved the outdoors. When you are a scout, you have to complete different challenges. I think everyone’s kid should join, they are missing out!”
